A series of explosions heard across the eastern periphery of Tehran on Saturday morning were the result of a planned, controlled disposal of obsolete munitions, according to statements from both the Pakdasht County governor and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Governor Mohammad Qomi told Iranian media that the operation was pre-scheduled, conducted under full safety protocols, and posed no security threat, with conditions in the county remaining normal. The IRGC’s provincial public relations office, in a separate statement, specified that the blasts were caused by specialized teams neutralizing unexploded ordnance left over from what it termed “American-Zionist aggression.”

Initial reports from residents of Pakdasht and Qiamdasht, cited by official Iranian news agencies, had noted the sound of explosions without identifying a cause. The IRGC later indicated that the disposal work would continue until approximately 3 p.m. local time, with the possibility of further detonations, and urged the public to rely solely on official sources and ignore social media rumours.

The incident unfolded against a backdrop of acute security sensitivity in the region. According to regional media, the blasts followed a week in which Washington and Tehran exchanged heavy fire, after former U.S. President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire “ended.” Those hostilities raised doubts about the durability of a memorandum of understanding that had been expected to pave the way for a comprehensive end to the conflict. However, a U.S. official, cited by Bloomberg and carried in Arabic-language reports, stated on Friday that talks between the United States and Iran on a permanent peace agreement were continuing, and that Washington remained committed to a diplomatic resolution.

Viewed from Tehran, the official narrative frames the explosions as a routine, scheduled technical operation with no link to the wider security environment. The IRGC’s reference to unexploded ordnance from “American-Zionist aggression” aligns with longstanding Iranian characterizations of external threats, while the local governor’s emphasis on normalcy seeks to reassure the public. From Washington, the confirmation of ongoing negotiations signals an effort to decouple the diplomatic track from military incidents. The dossier remains fluid: Iranian authorities have declared the disposal operation complete for the day, and no further official statements on the talks are expected until the next round of discussions, the timing of which has not been publicly announced.